Well as Spring is upon us, we thought we would give you some tips on how to keep your precious gemstone jewelry in tip top condition and give it the love and care it deserves.
Firstly, storing your jewelry in a dry place is a must. Humid bathrooms are an absolute no no as silver oxidises, aka. turns black when in contact with water and oxygen. Even leaving your jewelry out on display on a jewelry stand obviously looks great and can help in the decision making as to what necklace to wear, but, depending on where you live in the world, your bedroom may be a little humid too and your chains may well discolour. Also avoid leaving jewelry out on wood or chemically treated surfaces as this can also bring about tarnishing.
So a nice velvet cloth lined jewelry box is best. Store gemstone rings and necklaces in separated pouches to avoid rubbing up against other pieces as stones do scratch and high carat gold is soft too.
Lotions and potions that come into contact with your jewelry should be avoided as tarnishing can occur. Also, be aware of leaving gemstone pieces exposed to direct sun for an extended period of time, as this can fade the colour of the crystals.
Opals and seawater do nox mix...bye bye fire!
Also, always remove your jewelry when entering a sauna as sweating can cause your jewelry to tarnish as well.
Jewelry dipping solutions can be deadly to your gemstone pieces as they can be extremely corrosive. A little rub with a soft jewelry polishing cloth is your best option or if your pieces are particularly tarnished, then a solution of warm water, a drop of washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush should do the trick.
If your jewelry is cared for, it should last you for many years and even generations.